Number
1116 - Saturday 13th November 2021
MagiCon
2022 - first names announced. From the organisers: The first names have
been released for MagiCon 2022, the Irish Magic Convention: Fritz with a Z from the Netherlands and Oliver
Tabor will be lecturing and performing both on stage and close-up magic. Local
TikTok Star Joel M will open the convention with his full evening show and 'The
Irish Magician' Rodd Hogg will represent hosts The Ulster Society of Magicians
on the Sunday Gala Show.
Already 75% of rooms reserved at The Marine Court Hotel in the seaside
resort of Bangor, Co Down have been taken. Situated just fifteen minutes drive
from George Best Belfast City Airport there is also a regular train service to
Bangor from Belfast. The hotel is now accepting bookings at a special rate of
£285 per room for the three nights B&B (single or double/twin occupancy). This
rate is only available by phoning the hotel reception on 028 91451100 (not
online).
For those preferring to stay elsewhere Bangor has a new Premier Inn as well as a
variety of Bed and Breakfasts within easy walking distance of the Marine Court.
The hotel has a small car park for residents and a large public car park just
opposite. Registration for the convention itself will open in January 2022 and
prices are unlikely to increase more than 10% on the 2019 event. Convention
events include: Lectures, Dealers, Close-up and Stage Gala Shows and the Ulster
Society of Magicians 80th Anniversary Dinner and Cabaret. All mixed with a
generous amount of legendary Irish hospitality. See:
www.online-usm.com/magicon2022.
13.11.21
The
Comedy Legends Christmas Special. An Evening of Christmas Cheer, with four
of the UK’s funniest men. Mick Miller, Jimmy Cricket, Dean Park and John Archer
have been entertaining audiences up and down the country for decades. For two
special nights we have put them together in this unique show to celebrate the
Christmas festivities! 22nd & 23rd December, Town Hall, Ayr. See:
www.thegaiety.co.uk.
13.11.21
The
Birth of the Hoax - live talk (in person and online) by author Ian Keable at
Conway Hall, London on Tuesday November 16th. This event will be held with
an in-person audience at Conway Hall and online, via Zoom. Everyone wishing to
join this event must register for a ticket in advance via
www.conwayhall.org.uk. In 1749, a newspaper advertisement appeared declaring
that a man would climb inside a bottle on the stage of a London theatre.
Although the crowds turned up in their hundreds to witness the trick, the
performer didn’t. Over the following decades, elaborate jokes and fanciful tales
would continue to bamboozle people across England.
In The Century of Deception, magician and historian Ian Keable tells the
engrossing stories of these eighteenth-century hoaxes and those who were duped
by them. The English public swallowed tales of rapping ghosts, a woman who gave
birth to rabbits, a levitating Frenchman in a Chinese Temple and outrageous
astrological predictions. Not only were the hoaxes widely influential, drawing
in celebrities such as Samuel Johnson, Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Swift,
they also inflamed concerns about ‛English credulity’. ‘Fake news’, ‛going
viral’ and ‛social media’ may be modern terms, but these concepts have been with
us for centuries.
Ian Keable divides his time between performing magic; giving talks on topics
ranging from James Gillray, the first political cartoonist, to David Devant, the
first President of The Magic Circle; and researching and writing. His previous
books include Stand-Up: A Professional Guide to Comedy Magic and Charles Dickens
Magician: Conjuring in Life, Letters and Literature. His new book The Century
of Deception: The Birth of the Hoax in Eighteenth-Century England will be
available on the night. 7.15pm on Tuesday 16th November. £8 Live / £5 live
concessions & Live Stream (Advance tickets). Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square,
London WC1R 4RL. For more info and to book for 'in person' or 'virtual' visit
www.conwayhall.org.uk also see
www.forteanlondon.blogspot.com.
13.11.21
The
MagicWeek Video Archive. A new magic clip or show every week! This week
Meir Yedid with some knuckle busting magic in a guest spot on The Paul Daniels
Magic Show from 2nd November 1985. See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with more from The
MagicWeek Video Archive
Click Here.
13.11..21
New
podcast series in the making. Jez Rose writes: I’m working on a new podcast
series and looking for people who are happy to be interviewed not about
themselves per se, but to share anecdotes, personal memories, examples of how
they have been influenced, examples of work, ideas etc., pertaining to any of
the following individuals: Albert Goshman, Fred Kaps, Tony Corinda, Channing
Pollock, Dai Vernon, Doug Henning, Tommy Wonder and Alan Alan. If that’s you, or
you know someone, please contact me:
pa@jezrose.co.uk.
13.11.21
Leveridge
Legerdemain - the new lecture from Mark Leveridge. Following several years
of presenting a number of lectures comprising of material extracted from his
online club, E-Club Pro, Mark is excited to announce the arrival of his latest
lecture called Leveridge Legerdemain. Following the successful formula of the
previous E-Club Pro Live lectures, Mark has once again carefully compiled a
playlist of varied, easy to do magic from the E-Club Pro vaults. None of the
material has been included in the previous lectures, and everything will be
properly performed and fully explained. To launch the new lecture, Mark is
putting on a special Zoom Open Event on Wednesday 8th December 2021 at 7.30pm
GMT, in which he will present the new lecture for the first time to anyone who
wishes to purchase a ticket. At just £15.00 this Open Event is already good
value, but if you sign up no later than midnight on the 30th November 2021, you
will receive after the lecture a Discount Code worth £15.00 to put towards
purchases from the MLM website, thus making the lecture effectively free! So,
join Mark and others for two hours of magic suitable for close-up, stand-up and
mentalism on the 8th December by going to
www.markleveridge.co.uk.
13.11.21
Jon Allen lecture - Northamptonshire. Richard Eaton writes: The Magic Room are
delighted to announce that Jon Allen will be lecturing at The Magic Room, Great
Doddington Club, 41 Lower Street, Great Doddington, Wellingborough,
Northamptonshire NN29 7TL at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17th November. The lecture is
free for members and £10 for non-members (pay on the night), all welcome.
13.11.21
Daniel
Young on Craig Petty's Magic TV: 'Talk Magic'. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and
Saturday at 9pm, Craig Petty sits down and chats with a well known magician; a
creator, a performer, or someone who has had a positive impact on the Magic
Community. "Daniel Young - Talks Davenports, creating magic, the state of
magic today and more"
YouTube.
13.11..21
Kranzilla
Unleashed is here! From the publishers: Magicseen is delighted to announce
the release of the 120 page soft cover book featuring the creative ideas of US
comedy performer Nathan Kranzo. We are so pleased to finally be able to offer
this book to you as we have been trying to get it to the marketplace for some
time, but Covid kept getting in the way! But the wait is finally over and you
can now get your hands on over 60 effects, ideas and gags from a performer who
for years has been there and done it commercially. His material ranges from the
traditional to the quirky, the methods are usually simple and effective, and
much of it is suffused with Nathan's cheeky sense of humour! We think you will
enjoy this book and will find several items that you can lift and use almost
irrespective of your performing style. For more information and to order go to
www.magicseen.com.
13.11.21
Marvels of Mystery - today in Chandler's Ford. Four of The Magic Circle’s star magicians join forces in Marvels of Mystery, a new magic show for the whole family, featuring marvellous magic, wonderful illusion, laughs, gasps and stunning sleight of hand sorcery. Join your host crazy comedy conjuror Danny Lee Grew as he introduces sleight of hand master Dean Leavy (The Magic Circle’s Young Magician of the Year), the award winning magical ballerina Megan Swann (current Vice President of The Magic Circle), and finally The Curator Scott Penrose (Past President of The Magic Circle), who will be presenting Robert Houdin’s Marvellous Orange Tree from 1840, plus Maskelyne's chilling mind reading automaton Psycho, which makes its first appearance on a British stage in over 100 years! A must-see for any magic fan. Saturday 13th November 2021 2pm & 6pm Thornden Hall, Chandler’s Ford. For more information visit www.marvelsofmystery.com and for tickets see www.marvelsofmystery.com/uk-tour. 13.11.21
How
Magicians Think: Misdirection, Deception, and Why Magic Matters - Joshua Jay.
The door to magic is closed, but it's not locked. And now Joshua Jay, one of the
world's most accomplished magicians, not only opens that door but brings us
inside to reveal the artistry and obsessiveness, esoteric history, and long
whispered about traditions of a subject shrouded in mystery. And he goes one
step further: Joshua Jay brings us right into the mind of a magician: how they
develop their other worldly skills, conjure up illusions, and leave the rest of
us slack jawed with delight time after time. Along the way, Jay reveals another
kind of secret, one all readers will find meaningful even if they never aspire
to perform sleight of hand: What does it take to follow your heart and achieve
excellence?
In 52 short, compulsively readable essays, Jay describes how he does it, whether
it's through the making of illusions, the psychology behind them, or the way
technology influences the world of magic. He considers the aesthetics of
performance, discusses contemporary masters, including David Copperfield, Penn &
Teller, and David Blaine, and details how magicians hone their craft. And
answers questions like: Can a magic trick be too good? How do you saw a person
in half? Is there real magic in the universe? Just published and in stock at
www.amazon.co.uk.
13.11.21
The Repair Shop. A magician's table receives Steve Fletcher's attention; an item that conjures up wonderful memories of Beverley Swain's late father. Janice Monty and her daughter Nicole present a pair of tap shoes. These crushed and cracked treasures were recently unearthed in a garage and the pair are hoping that cobbler Dean Westmoreland can breathe new life into them. Silversmith Brenton West takes on Diane Vaughan's late grandmother's ornate silver purse, now dented, tarnished with broken hinges and clasp. Thursday 25th November (45 minutes) on BBC One. See TV Magic. 13.11.21
An Evening of Magic & Mind Reading - The Chapel Arts House, Ormskirk, Thursday, 18th November. Jump Start Entertainment presents The Magic Live Lounge at The Chapel Arts House, Ormskirk. Fancy a night out with a difference? Come along to The Magic Live Lounge for an evening of unique mind blowing fun and entertainment featuring several of the UK’s hottest Sleight of Hand Artists, Mind Readers and Illusionists for a truly unforgettable experience. Featuring: The Great Borrini (Mystery Entertainer), Mark Roberts (Sleight of Hand Illusionist), Adam Dadswell (Modern Magician) and Mason King (Mind Reader). Thursday 18th November at 8pm at The Chapel Arts House, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4QR. See www.eventbrite.co.uk. 13.11.21
Graham
Lee's Care & Share Balloon Days are back. Graham writes: The first day
will be held in Portsmouth on Tuesday 30th November, kindly sponsored by Qualatex Balloons.
The day is from 10am till 5pm and I will be running 4 workshops and
explaining some Christmas balloon models. Plus, there will be time to try out
some new designs and enjoy a fun competition, if you'd like to join in, with some prizes to be
won.
Any questions then please get in touch:
graham@balloonartwholesale.co.uk
or to book go to
www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk. Early Bird Special:
Book by 20th November £15 (book after 20th November £20).
13.11.21
History's Greatest Mysteries with Laurence Fishburne - Houdini's Lost Diaries. Celebrated escape artist Harry Houdini left behind a diary that had been kept from the public, held under lock and key by a wealthy New York City family. Now, magician and Houdini expert Bill Kalush has finally secured access to these pages. A team of experts help unveil the diary, using new information gleaned from these personal accounts to form new insights into this enigmatic man's life. Tuesday 23rd November on Sky History, see TV Magic. 13.11.21
David Blaine: Real or Magic. For more than a decade, David Blaine has been captivating the world with his high-profile endurance stunts. Starting his career as a magician who appeared to do the impossible with a deck of cards, he was soon following in the footsteps of Houdini, seeking out that which seemed physically impossible, and actually doing it. This special programme follows Blaine's signature brand of street magic and mystifies some of the most recognisable celebrities in the world, including Jamie Foxx, Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Ricky Gervais, Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz and Will Smith, to name a few. Blaine goes into the homes of Kanye West and Olivia Wilde, and visits Stephen Hawking at his office at Cambridge University. He also travels the world, astonishing people from all walks of life with never-seen-before, inconceivable magic. (Repeat) Wednesday 24th November on Sky Showcase. See TV Magic. 13.11.21
Cameron
Young hooks up with Penn & Teller
YouTube • Sooty under the hammer
Click Here • "Charles left amazed by magician’s trick on visit to
Brixton"
Click Here • "14 Captivating Facts About Magic"
Click Here •
"Magician blurs lines between imagination and reality"
Click Here • "Kate Garraway is left open-mouthed"
Click Here • "Dynamo speaks to the Telegraph & Argus
about being WWE fan"
Click Here • "Magician Tom Brace to return to London with Tom Brace:
Embrace the Impossible!"
Click Here • "TikTok Magician's slick tricks are baffling and
brilliant"
Click Here • That's it for this week, your UK magic news is always
welcomed. See you next week, Duncan.
13.11.21